Reddit Launches Three-Episode Original Series

by Christopher Freeburn | March 19, 2013 11:19 am

Reddit Launches Three-Episode Original Series

[1]Social website Reddit is making a limited foray into the original content game[2].

The online community has produced its own web series funded by Google‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG[3]) YouTube, called Explain Like I’m Five, based on the its social/political issue question and answer section. The first three episodes debuted on Monday, The Hollywood Reporter notes.

In the episodes, actors appear before children in a classroom discussing issues including the Syrian uprising, Friedrich Nietzsche and the stock market. At the end of the episodes, viewers are directed toward an educational charity.

A Reddit official noted that the series — of which only three episodes have been made — is aimed at prompting its users to make and post their own videos that draw from the website’s content. The Explain Like I’m Five section of Reddit’s website sees about 4 million visits per month.

A number online media providers have begun creating their own original programming. Last month, Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX[6]) announced a partnership with DreamWorks Animation (NASDAQ:DWA[7]) to develop new animated shows aimed at children[8].